kpnut

Friday 14th July The day has arrived to welcome a very old friend on board. In fact, there’ll be three of us for the weekend as my main boat buddy, who I used to hire with, is also coming. We’ve known each other since childhood and were all very active members of our local young farmers club back in the day, so probably spent about 16 hours a day together when not at work/school. My mission is to pootle up to Coltishall Lock to meet Julie off the bus from Norwich. Meeting her there allows the best intro to the Broads I can think of, with a cruise all the way back down to the vicinity of the Ant for an overnight wild mooring stop. She’ll get the beautiful stretch from coltishall to Wroxham, the bridge to go under (fingers crossed!), the big houses etc of The Bure, then the experience of a wild mooring. With only three days holiday, that will start it off nicely. Both our husbands have known each other even longer than we’ve been friends (they used to rightly say YFC was a good marriage bureau😂) but even that bond doesn’t seem to have encouraged them to tag along. Hermits???? Their loss!

That’s what this forum is all about for me Roy, feeling part of a community when spending nearly half my year on the boat. Thursday 13th I had a date with Wroxham Bridge at low tide, which wasn’t till 5pm. After taking the boat round to kingfisher quay at Richardson’s for a pump out (always an excellent job done) off I went and arrived under the bridge exactly on time. It was 6’10” which is ample for me. I only hope I’ve judged it right to get back under the following late afternoon, with a wet day forecast. I had the pick of the moorings at the viaduct so tried to moor where there would be the least gnats on this rather damp, humid evening!

We must be showing our age!

Ha ha, I wasn’t going to recount this from last night, but now you’ve mentioned gooseberry gin I will. I borrowed my neighbour’s drill and a few other bits and bobs yesterday afternoon and his boat diy buddy also wired up my 12v lamp that I was converting from 240. So we had a bit of a session last night as a thanks. First my gooseberry gin, then raspberry vodka and blackcurrant gin. Mopped up with cheese and biscuits. I won’t believe him if he says he doesn’t drink again! Re icecream - I still think the gooseberry has the edge of their flavours. Really ‘fresh’ tasting. Rhubarb and ginger is my second favourite. Like you Turnoar, I’m going to make some. My gosegogs will be ready to harvest when I get home after this trip.

Wednesday 12th July Another quiet night (8 hours this time) and an pre breakfast walk for me and Finlay. We took our time leaving Neatishead, being one of the last to leave. We arrived back at Stalham soon after, waving to Mouldy as he made his way down the Ant, the car was packed (looked a bit of a jigsaw to get everything in) while I took the baby for a walk, and we then installed a tall shelving cabinet that Tony had made me at home. As usual, when I’d taken the measurements I’d forgotten about actually getting the thing in, so we did have to do a quick modification involving a saw! I’m very chuffed with myself for then borrowing next door’s drill and securing the unit in place, utilising the curtain pelmet and a block of wood behind it to clamp it tight. Tony had made me a bar with suction pads to attach to the back to hold it against the Formica and they worked a treat too. So a Christmas present of a drill is in the cards. It was sad to see the family leave after some lunch, but I had a lot to do to clean the boat, do the washing and shopping and get it ready for the next part of the trip.

Tuesday 11th July I fell into step with the holidaymakers. I had a good walk round the ‘short’ version of Upton marsh before the others stirred. Up to the end of Fleet Dyke, along the Bure to the pumping station, down the track to Marsh Rd, across the field footpath to the corner of Kingfisher Lane, along past the staithe and back to the moorings. Breakfast was underway when I got back and we later set off for Neatishead. Having my granddaughter on board certainly made me focus far more on her rather than the river. I could have been anywhere really! I enjoyed having a chauffeur. Neatishead was quiet when we arrived and we moored on the first on the right so we could use the bench etc. I gave the new parents a break by taking littl’un for a walk with the pram along to Gayes Staithe, up to the entrance to Barton Broad boardwalk and back along to Neatishead itself. Not one murmur. Then it was my turn to take the kayak out. It’s a whitewater kayak and very light on the bow, so took a bit of controlling but I soon got used to it. It was interesting going down a couple of little dykes you can’t take a boat down and I got a different perspective of the boats at Gayes staithe, being up close and personal with their hulls. I was treated to a meal at the White Horse, rounding off a lovely relaxing day.

Gooseberry icecream due in next week🙂, according to the Big Shop at Womack staithe. Monday 10th July The start of my next trip and one I was really looking forward to. I was in Wroxham for a dog leg stretch by late morning. Coming back to the carpark from the viaduct moorings I met Roy from our forum who stopped me as he’d recognised Finlay. We had a nice chat, great to meet you Roy. I’d gone up to the viaduct moorings to take a photo of how quiet it was, courtesy of the high water level meaning not much was getting through the bridge. I dropped my car off at my mooring and got the bus down to Ludham to meet Catherine and family (husband and 7 week old baby). They’ve been out for a 12 day trip. It seems the boat had been spotted by Mouldy and Norfolk Lady is in one of Catherine’s photos Malcolm. After an icecream we moved off to have a look at Potter Heigham bridge, just for interest, and finally moored up on one of the Fleet Dyke wild moorings. At 7 wks old, the baby is just beginning to sleep longer through the night, so we had a good 6 hours, although it was extremely humid that night.

I had an interesting conversation with my son in law while he was driving the boat. As we came up towards Richardson’s where the river splits to go to Stalham staithe, he was within the speed limit according to his GPS. I asked that when he forked left he slowed down as some berth holders were saying some boats go too fast. I was surprised that his reaction was ‘ I’m within the speed limit so if people are affected, they need to ask the authorities to reduce the speed limit’. I replied that we could just reduce our speed ourselves to be polite, but he didn’t get that. He was doing nothing wrong, but I was surprised by the point of view that it’s within the rule so it’s ok, rather than thinking of others as well.

Part of the work done by LBBY on Springer’s Retreat was lining out the bathroom and putting in the new shower. I chose a Mira Atom EV Thermostatic bar with ‘water saving’ of some sort and 4 flow patterns in the head. I got it on offer from Screwfix or Toolstation, can’t remember which. The pressure provided by my jabsco water pump parmax 2.9) is wonderful. The shower is designed to work down to 0.1bar. The space for the shower is 570mm x 510mm x 1800mm high, but by increasing the ‘footprint’ of the curtain rail on the ceiling up to 800mm x 560mm, the shower feels so much larger. The curtain is no where near a wet body!!! And it stays where you put it at the bottom so all the water still drains where it should. The height of the bar is no issue ie doesn’t get in the way, and having the riser rail over towards the corner doesn’t compromise the water flow or shower head height. The mixer taps had been over the other side of the room, well away from the shower cubicle itself. So it was a matter of shutting the curtain, turning on the taps, adjusting by fiddling each tap, getting in to the shower, hoping the temperature didn’t change, and if it did, or to turn off the water, having to lean over the room dripping water everywhere. Hope that helps someone’s decision-making.

I agree Simon. I rarely experience the things that are seen on various video channels. If/when I do, it can shock, but I use it as a learning session; how would I have done something differently. I have no idea how boaters in the past behaved, but I get the impression there were far more boats around so the potential for incidents must have been quite high. All my times hiring have been recently and I would have loved to be given a tin of varnish/paint in case of incident. I would love the idea the boatyard cared. I do remember being asked in 2018 to wash the decks down each day of my hire. I did it religiously. This enormous list of boatyards, how was there enough business for them all? I suppose that’s why there fewer yards operating now, which is a shame as the history/character of the Broads must have altered. Much like the rest of ‘life’.

I’ve heard back from Norfolk county council about the Upton marshes/fleet dyke/opposite st Benets path. Someone got there before me and reported it and it’s in hand. I’ll look later this week. For whatever else I think about no mow may, one thing’s for sure. There’s enough long grass on the marshes etc without needing a tiny bit more for wildlife right on the footpath but a real setback for humans. I’m very much for making space for wildlife but within the realms of what is needed and what is practical.

Norfolk county council, as I suspect many other councils have cut back on maintenance as you say Andrew. That doesn’t take away their legal obligation to maintain public rights of way, be they roads or footpaths. Deterring tourists is a very shortsighted policy for the area and the relevant business/tourism groups should be pushing the council too. Discouraging anyone from accessing the outside environment is very shortsighted, although I don’t think the councils’ remit is particularly to preserve the health of the nation! They wouldn’t shut swimming pools and leisure centres if that were the case. Why do we get so many decisions wrong in this country? Fire brigade rather than prevention! Further to my reporting of various path issues, I’ve only had a response to one so far. To say it wasn’t bad enough to fit the criteria. I now need to ask what the criteria are. I’m hoping by not hearing about the others, that they’ve been assessed and in the process of being dealt with. I’ll see over the next few weeks. Last year, after reporting at about the same time, (June), by late August the paths had been mown. Better late than never!

I was looking forward to this quiz. But last minute guest turned up after a problem with his car. That’s three weeks in a row I think I’ve missed now. And I have guests on the boat next Friday too. ‘See’ you all soon!

Why is it all so complicated??? I think I'll just have to keep an eye on levels towards the end of next week and decide on which way to turn out of the Ant onto the Bure.

Oops. Of course Paul. I woke up too soon!!!! Thanks.

I’m hoping wroxham bridge is do-able next Thursday as I’m hoping to meet someone off the train/bus at either Hoveton or Coltishall on Friday 14th. So I’m keeping a bit of an eye out and have other train/bus routes up my sleeve if needs be eg Acle, Salhouse, Womack etc. If it’s springs at the moment, at least they should be on the way down again in a week’s time.

That’s nice Helen, thanks. I’m leaving them alone for their hols so had no idea where they’d got to. I did have a couple of nice photos from Fleet Dyke. And I’ve just texted Catherine about the report of a salt surge on the Bure, so she can report any distressed fish she sees to her colleagues (she works for the EA, in another capacity). 0800 807 060 if anyone needs the number. Are the tides high? As Wroxham bridge doesn’t seem to have as much clearance as of late. You had a long old journey yesterday. I’ve enjoyed reading about your trip.

Actual obstruction by a barrier is a criminal offence, not a civil matter. Landowners have to upkeep stiles etc, sometimes with financial help from local authorities, and see to fallen trees and overhanging bushes etc. Councils have to see to overgrown vegetation coming up from the path itself. So if it’s grass, cow parsley, nettles, thistles, burdock and other herbaceous plants that’s causing a problem, it’s council. If it’s woody, it’s landowner. Finlay springer has a grass seed cyst in the space between two paws at the moment, no doubt got by going through all this grass at this time of year (home or broads, most likely broads). He’ll have to have it seen to at the vet after my next Broads trip, as I’d hoped it’d come out, but hasn’t. Now that’s an idea. Keep the paths as they are and make ourselves nicer ones across wherever we wish to go!!!!

Well, not really ‘like’ Grendel, seeing as you’ve just written about being mown down by a car, but you know what I mean!

To report an issue to the Norfolk county council go to Norfolk.gov.uk then choose ‘Roads and Transport’ then ‘Roads’ then ‘Report a highway problem’ then the green box ‘Report a public right of way problem’ then ‘overgrown surface’ and follow the instructions. It is the council’s responsibility to keep overgrown surface vegetation clear on public rights of way. I suggest anyone having issues in their own area to do a similar exercise. Don’t choose overgrown trees and bushes as that’s the responsibility of the landowner and just for the council to inspect.

And without wishing to stir up the Broads National Park debate, if that is what the BA and Local Authorities do actually aspire to, then they won’t get there by limiting access. They have plenty of other regions of the country to look to for best practice of access. Imagine the uproar in the Lake District if paths were so overgrown as to be impassable. I don’t think I’ve ever come across even one, even in the lower parts and that’s with walking all 214 Wainwrights over the years.

Not just this year Dave. See the thread I started last year ‘state of footpaths’ of something similar. The vast majority of those not being cut are Norfolk County Council responsibility. Their council website has a page for reporting overgrown (to put it mildly!) footpaths. I did put a few on last year and when I revisited a month later, some had been cut. No idea if that was co-incidence or not. This year, I’ve tried my best to not get wound up about it, but it is really impacting my enjoyment of being out on the boat. That’s mainly what I use the boat for, to access the parts of the Broads not so easily accessed by any other means.

That looks nice Malcolm. Here’s ours, about 25 years old. Tony built the whole thing with help lining the flue from an installer. We get through that basket of logs on the left each night. Our wood all comes from Tony’s hedgelaying jobs so a right mixture. We have it stored in various stores around the garden and allotments so it all gets well seasoned before use on rotation. It’s very true that some woods are much brighter, hotter burning than others, so choose carefully from your supplier. There are a number of websites that’ll tell you what’s what. We have to leave the living room door open when it’s lit, and if I light it in winter about half an hour before the boiler is due to come on at 5pm, the whole house heats up enough for the radiators not to come on. Saves us a lot of money I expect.

I might remember to bring you a jar of gooseberry jam sometime Simon. The Ronaldo gooseberry icecream will be available again soon no doubt, as the season’s gooseberries are just about ready to harvest. How Hill and the Ramblers at Thurne stock it.

I think it’s finished and been replaced by gooseberry gin. And the much tamer elderflower cordial that I made last month.